Automatic accident signalling apparatus for motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

An automatic accident-signalling apparatus for motor vehicles, arranged inside the motor vehicle, comprising at least one device sensitive to collision and means-emitting signals controlled by said device sensitive to collision.

United States Patent Scuderi Feb. 29, 1972 S T. m Mm P 8 E mm Mm m M U MU.

[54] AUTOMATIC ACCIDENT SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES [72]Inventor:

(Bern), Switzerland Aug. 18, 1969 [21] Appl'.No.: 850,821

2,791,653 5/1957 Haberland 2,898,415 8/1959 Clurman...

[22] Filed:

3,123,801 3/1964 Bosler....... 3,213,226 10/1965 Konderla PrimaryExaminer--John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Glen R. Swann, Ill

Italy.................................39326 A/68 Attorney-Guido Modianoand Albert .losif [51] Int.Cl........;............. [58]FieldoISearch..................

ZOO/61.45

cles, arranged inside the motor vehicle, comprising at least one devicesensitive to collision and means-emitting signals controlled by saiddevice sensitive to collision.

1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures jPAIsmeumasmz, 3.646.583

I SANT/ scuo sm mvsmon.

BY, I

Agent AUTOMATIC ACCIDENT SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automaticaccident-signalling apparatus for motor vehicles, intended toself-operate in case of collision or overturning of the vehicle and tofurnish danger signals to arriving motor vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the apparatuscomprises essentially a device sensitive to collision, the sensitivityof which is adjustable manually, and which operates a lower power radiotransmitter of consequently small radius of action. This this radiotransmitter transmits an alarm signal intended to be received by radioreceiver, installed in nearby arriving vehicles, said radio receiversbeing maintained'always in operation when the motor vehicles aretravelling.

According to modified embodiment there is provided another device alsosensitive to collision, similar to the preceding device but calibratedat lesser sensitivity, which causes isolation of the vehicle or storagebattery in case of more violent collision or overturning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The apparatus according to theinvention will now be described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is the electrical schematic diagram of said apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective viewof the device sensitive tocollision as used in the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a variation of part of the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, in anembodiment independent of the rest of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a further variation analogous with that of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, a radio transmitter 1provided with an antenna 2 installed in a suitable place in the vehicleis operated by a current sent through the conductors or lines 3 and 4, asignal lamp 5 being inserted between said wires 3 and 4 for signallingtransmitter operation.

An acoustic alarm device 6 is also connected between the wires 3 and 4by way of a switch 7, and when the manual switch 7 is closed itfurnishes an acoustic signal indicating operation of the radiotransmitter.

A battery 8 permits operation of the apparatus independent of the normalvehicle battery or storage battery 9. The battery 8 is connected to afuse l0 and a general manual switch 1 1. As visible from FIG. 1 thegeneral switch 11 is a double-throw knife switch. A signal lamp 13 isconnected between the wires 4 and 12 after the general switch.

In orderto-operate the radio transmitter 1, it is necessary to connecttogether the wires 3 and 12, which can be done in three different ways:firstly the connection between the wires 3 and 12 may be madeautomatically by the impact switch device 14 sensitive to collisionshown in FIG. 2, following a collision; secondly said connection may beestablished by means of a manual switch 15; thirdly said connection maybe established by operating a key 16 such that connection remainsthroughout the whole of the time during whichthe key 16 is pushed. It isevident that the impact switch device 14 sensitive to collision, themanual switch 15 and the key 16 are connected together in parallel bymeans of the wires 17, l8, 19, 20 and 21, 22 respectively.

Enclosed in the same casing 23 together with the preceding complex thereis a similar complex which interrupts the flow of current from thevehicle battery 9. This latter complex comprises a battery 24, a secondimpact switch device 14 sensitive to collision of the type shown in FIG.2, a signal lamp 25 and a relay 26 of the type which when energizedopens its contact 27 and maintains it open until an appropriatepushbutton 28 is operated, which permits said contact to close. Whileall the other components of the latter complex are enclosed within thesame casing 23 as the preceding complex, the relay 26 is enclosed in avery solid casing 29, capable of resisting collisions. The pushbutton 28and two terminals A and B project from said casing 29. Having previouslydisconnected the corresponding electric cable 30 from the terminalC ofthe motor vehicle battery 9, a first terminal of the casing, e.g., A, isconnected to the terminal C by means of a thickness of cable 30a, andthe other terminal B is connected to the cable 30 of the motor vehicle.

Means of anchorage are also provided on the casing 29 of the relay 26for securing the casing to a suitable point of the motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically the said impact switch device 14 sensitiveto collision. The device 14 comprises a base section 31 with a generallycylindrical base, on which lies a ferromagnetic sphere 32 in the restposition, insulated electrically from the section 31. Asclearly visiblefrom FIG. 2, the cylindrical base 31 has a seat at the upper endthereof, the seat defining a receiving space for the sphere 32 andhaving a cir-. cular periphery with a diameter less than the maximumdiameter of the sphere, thereby allowing a portion of said sphere topenetrate into said receiving space. Above the sphere 32 is a magnet 33.The magnet 33 may be rotatably supported by a threaded shaft 34 fromwhich it is insulated electrically, said shaft being screwed into athreaded hole 35 in the cover 36 of the casing 23, with which the base31 is rigid. By acting on the knob 37 and rotating the threaded shaft 34in its seat 35, the magnet 33 can be raised and lowered. It is thuspossible to adjust the distance between the magnet 33 and the sphere 32.

In the case of vehicle collision, the device 14 closes the correspondingcircuit by operating in the following manner: at the moment of collisionthe sphere 32 is thrust by its force of inertia and it rises, trying toescape from the base 31. But as it rises it approaches the magnet 33which after a certain point attracts it. There is then physical contactbetween the sphere 32 and the magnet 33, and hence each time there is acollision or jolt of a certain strength, electrical contact is madebetween the wires 17 and 18, which are connected to the magnet 33 andthe sphere 32 respectively as well as to the respective input and outputterminals of the impact switch 14.

It should be noted that the sensitivity to collision of the device 14can be adjusted in a very simple and efficient manner by merely actingon the knob 37. In fact the closer the magnet is to the sphere, the moresensitive is the device 14, because the movement of the sphere 32 needsto be less and hence the force of inertia which it must possess in caseof collision in order to operate the system is less. It is obvious thatonce such a device is closed, it remains closed until the sphere 32 andmagnet 33 are separated. Separation and disjunction of the sphere fromthe magnet is carried out by known means. As an example in FIG. 2 a hole38 has been provided for this purpose on the base section 31 and a pivot39 which extends transversally to the cylinder at the hole 38. Asuitable cord, which may consist of said electric wire 18, can be fixedto the sphere 32, made to pass around the pivot 39 and to leave from thehole 38. By pulling said cord, the sphere 32 is compelled to loweritself and to free itself from the magnet 33, so breaking the electriccontact.

The operation of the device 14 inserted between the battery 24 and relay26 is naturally identical to that of the analogous device 14 insertedbetween the wires 17 and 18, the device 14 connected between the wires17 and 18 serving to put the radio transmitter into operation, and thesecond device 14 connected between the battery 24 and the relay 26serving to disconnect the battery 9 from the motor vehicle.

Flow of current from the battery 9 can be restored only by pushing themanual pushbutton 28 after having naturally disconnected the sphere 32from the magnet 33 of the device 14.

The fact that the relay 26 remains in tension until the device 14 isacted on has no adverse effect on the relay, which is sized so as to beable to be energized for very long periods. If on the other hand thecurrent should stop after a certain period, the relay contacts wouldremain always open, as they can close only by pushing the restoringpushbutton.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 two further applications of the device 14 sensitiveto'collision are shown in combination with the relay 26. In FIG. 3 therelay 26 is connected to the terminals of the vehicle battery 9 by wayof the device 14. As in FIG. 1, the contacts of the relay are connectedon one side to that terminal of the battery 9 which is not connected toearth and on the other side to the wire which from said battery carriesthe current to the electrical installation of the vehicle. In the caseof violent collision or overturning, depending upon the sensitivity ofthe device 14, the relay 26 is energized and the relative contactinterrupts the flow of current from the battery 9 to the wire 30. Alsoin this case the relay 26 remains energized or in tension until thecircuit is broken by separating the sphere, from the magnet 33.

If, however, it is preferred not to leave the relay 26 in tension, thecircuit shown in FIG. 4 can be used. Said circuit differs from that ofFIG. 3 by the addition of a condenser 40 connected in series with therelay 26 and the device 14, the assembly being connected to theterminals of the battery 9.

The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is as follows: in the caseof collision the device 14 closes the circuit and connects one side ofthe condenser 40 to earth byway of the relay 26.

By this means the condenser becomes charged and the charging current issuch as to trip the relay 26. After a short time the condenser 40 ischarged and current no longer circulates through the relay 26. The relay26 is thus deenergized but its contact still remains open until thepushbutton 28 is pushed.

From that which has been said heretofore, the usefulness of thisconnection is clear, in that it serves to prevent chains of accidents incase of fog, low visibility or the like, and it can permit eliminationof horns, it being sufficient to operate the key 16 in order to warnvehicles in the vicinity. Further, this invention can be modified in thesense that certain categories of vehicles, such as police cars,ambulances, fire engines and the like can use a different recognitionsignal and hence request a free passage by using the apparatus of thisinvention in place of the siren.

Further, in case of damage to the vehicle in a dangerous place, by nightor in fog, the present apparatus can be operated by manually closing theswitch 15. In this way, the operation of said apparatus will signal thepresence of the obstacle formed by the damaged vehicle.

It is likewise evident to the experts of this field that car radioscontained in motor vehicles could be easily modified to incorporate theapparatus according to this invention, and which would render the use ofsuch a necessary apparatus very economical.

The invention so conceived is susceptible to numerous variations, all ofwhich enter into the protective field of the appended claims. Thus forexample the base 31 is of any shape, capable of containing another bodyalso of any shape, having the same function as the sphere 32. Further,the magnet 33 may be of any shape. The circuits of FIGS. 3 and 4 mayalso undergo indeterminant modifications, in the form of abolition orconnection of signal lamps, switches and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic accident-signalling apparatus for motor vehicles with astorage battery and a main energy supply cable from said storage batteryto the electric appliances of the motor vehicle, the apparatus beingarranged inside the motor vehicle and comprising: a casing, within thecasing:

a radio transmitter for emitting accident signals,

a first battery independent of said storage battery,

at least one line connecting said first battery to said transmitter,interposed in said at least one line and connected in parallel to eachother: an impact switch and at least one manually operated switch; andafter said switches an acoustic alarm device and a signal lamp, bothconnected in parallel in said line,:

a general double-throw knife switch having one knife thereof interposedin said line between said first battery and said switches, a fuse inseries with said knife and after said fuse a second signal lampconnected in parallel in said line,

the apparatus further comprising within said casing a second battery,

outside said casing: a relay .switch interposed in said main energysupply cable,

at least another line connecting electrically said relay switch withsaid second battery; interposed in said another line and within saidcasing: a second impact switch, the other of the knives of said doublethrow knife switch being interposed between said second impact switchand said second battery,

and after said impact switch a further signal lamp connected in parallelin said another line; thereby to supply electric energy to saidtransmitter and cause it to emit accident signals and to energize saidrelay switch and maintain it open, when the motor vehicle is subjectedto an impact capable of actuating said impact switches,

said impact switches having each an input and an output terminal, aferromagnetic sphere, a wire connecting electrically said sphere to oneof said terminals thereof, a cylindrical base electrically insulatedfrom said sphere, said cylindrical base having an upper end and a seatin said upper end defining a receiving space for said sphere, said seathaving a circular periphery, said sphere resting against said circularperiphery when in normal resting position, said circular peripheryhaving a diameter less than the maximum diameter of said sphere therebyallowing a portion of said sphere to penetrate into said receiving spacedefined by said seat, a magnet member above said cylindrical base at adistance from said circular periphery thereof, conduit meanselectrically connecting said magnet member to another of said terminals,adjustable screw means connected with said magnet member, saidadjustable screw means having an end thereof projecting outside saidcasing thereby to allow adjustment of said magnetic member from theoutside of said casing, said second impact switch having its adjustablescrew means adjusted to a less impact sensitivity than that of saidfirst impact switch.

1. An automatic accident-signalling apparatus for motor vehicles with astorage battery and a main energy supply cable from said storage batteryto the electric appliances of the motor vehicle, the apparatus beingarranged inside the motor vehicle and comprising: a casing, within thecasing: a radio transmitter for emitting accident signals, a firstbattery independent of said storage battery, at least one lineconnecting said first battery to said transmitter, interposed in said atleast one line and connected in parallel to each other: an impact switchand at least one manually operated switch; and after said switches anacoustic alarm device and a signal lamp, both connected in parallel insaid line,: a general double-throw knife switch having one knife thereofinterposed in said line between said first battery and said switches, afuse in series with said knife and after said fuse a second signal lampconnected in parallel in said line, the apparatus further comprisingwithin said casing a second battery, outside said casing: a relay switchinterposed in said main energy supply cable, at least another lineconnecting electrically said relay switch with said second battery;interposed in said another line and within said casing: a second impactswitch, the other of the knives of said double throw knife switch beinginterposed between said second impact switch and said second battery,and after said impact switch a further signal lamp connected in parallelin said another line; thereby to supply electric energy to saidtransmitter and cause it to emit accident signals and to energize saidrelay switch and maintain it open, when the motor vehicle is subjectedto an impact capable of actuating said impact switches, said impactswitches having each an input and an output terminal, a ferromagneticsphere, a wire connecting electrically said sphere to one of saidterminals thereof, a cylindrical base electrically insulated from saidsphere, said cylindrical base having an upper end and a seat in saidupper end defining a receiving space for said sphere, said seat having acircular periphery, said sphere resting against said circular peripherywhen in normal resting position, said circular periphery having adiameter less than the maximum diameter of said sphere thereby allowinga portion of said sphere to penetrate into said receiving space definedby said seat, a magnet member above said cylindrical base at a distancefrom said circular periphery thereof, conduit means electricallyconnecting said magnet member to another of said terminals, adjustablescrew means connected with said magnet member, said adjustable screwmeans having an end thereof projecting outside said casing thereby toallow adjustment of said magnetic member from the outside of saidcasing, said second impact switch having its adjustable screw meansadjusted to a less impact sensitivity than that of said first impactswitch.